This week I booked travel insurance for my upcoming overseas trip, and I’m sadden to say that thoughts of terrorism crossed my mind. Whilst I’ve traveled far and wide over the past couple of years, it’s only recently due to so many acts of senseless violence that I’ve started to wonder what happens if I’m unlucky enough to be caught up in one of these heinous incidents.

As most travelers do, I try to ensure that my personal safety is maintained all the time whilst I’m abroad. I’ve been in Thailand during a coup, I’ve witnessed many protests on foreign city streets, and I’ve observed scenes of devastation after the fact in places such as New Orleans-post hurricane Katrina. But fortunately I’ve never witnessed or been directly affected by an act of terrorism, and I hope I never do. But over this past year it seems that incidents of hatred, intolerance and violence have increased dramatically throughout the world. This of course, gives me pause when I’m planning my travel and now also impacts the amount of attention I’m paying to my travel insurance coverage.

What if, God forbid, something does happen whilst I’m abroad? What if I’m directly impacted by an incident? What if something happens in a location I’m about to travel to? What am I covered for? Can I cancel and re-route to an alternate city? Am I covered if I’m injured?

Before booking travel insurance this week I did some research on the subject of terrorism to try and find answers to these questions.

CoverMore Travel Insurance is who I’ve always booked with prior to leaving Australia. I’ve never actually made a claim so I’m really not sure if their service is good or not, but they are the agency that Flight Centre are associated with, and as my travel agent is a Flight Centre agent I’ve always booked with them. However researching this week it’s not particularly clear what’s covered and what’s not.

In regard to medical expenses it seems that any medical assistance I may need whilst abroad will be covered not matter what (unless it’s bird flu) for an unlimited amount. So that’s good. If I am unlucky enough to be injured somewhere due to anything that’s happened I can receive whatever it is I need.

However when reading through the CoverMore Product Disclosure Statement, Section 3: Amendment or Cancellation Costs, Section 8: Travel Delay, Section 10: Special Events all say,

“We Will Not Pay For Claims caused by:

Claims arising directly or indirectly from an Act Of Terrorism or the threat of perceived threat of an Act Of Terrorism”

So it seems if an incident occurs that results in me wanting to change my travel plans, my transportation is delayed or I am scheduled to attend a special event such as a wedding, funeral or conference and I don’t make it there, I’m not covered.

CoverMore Travel Insurance have a World Events and Claims Advice on their website providing information about specific world events that customers can refer to, but the information is reasonable vague. It seems to confirm exactly what you’re covered for at the time, it’s best to contact them by phone.

So what did I do after looking into this coverage? I booked my regular travel insurance with CoverMore, what other choice did I have? I’m not traveling to an area that is on high-alert, it seems that all medical costs will be covered no matter what happens to cause my illness or injury, and that’s the most important reason I get travel insurance in the first place.

If I was really concerned about acts of terrorism in a place I was planning to visit, it’s likely that I would assess and possibly adjust my plans at my own cost.

But in the end, no one really knows what’s coming next. Do we just cancel all our travel dreams and opt for the ‘safer’ life of staying home and not exploring the world? For me that’s not an option. I feel that if people choose not to explore, to not experience new cultures, meet new people, or discover amazing places, the evil and the people who incite it have one. And that’s not a world I want to be a part of.